A Chapter I Never Used - A Section From ''Moving On''

First off, before you go on to read what was already done of this unused chapter that I was going to use as one of the main connection-points in the story, ''Moving On'', I need to say that I was originally planning to intertwine the story with ''Childhood Sweethearts'' and portray Rainbow Strike as an almost father-like figure to the Crusaders, particularly, Scootaloo, when she wants his help to get her to open her feelings up to Cerulean Blaze.

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''Hey, Strike? Can I ask you a question?'' Scootaloo asked, looking up to me with purple, nervous eyes. Looking back down at her, I blinked at the filly. From the way she said asked me, I could tell that something was troubling her mind.

''You know you can, Scoots. You don't need to ask me.'' I said gently as I leaned down to her level, placing a hoof to her shoulder. It wasn't normally like her to stay behind after a music lesson to have a one on one talk with me. From behind her, Sweetie and Apple Bloom have left around a minute or so ago, asking her to hurry up and I felt some worry for her. ''What's up? You seem troubled.'' I said, observing her emotions through her face and eyes that she was failing at concealing.

For a moment, she looked away with a nervous blush and her lips seemed to lock up, disabling her from speaking the problem. Sitting down in front of her, I gently held her shoulders with my hooves and prompted her to look at me and when she eventually did so, I offered her a gentle, understanding smile.

''Hey, you know you can trust me, right? The only way I can help you is if you tell me what the trouble is. I won't force you to say anything, but you do know I'm here if you want to talk about it.'' I said calmly to the nervous filly and her expression softened at my words, slowly becoming more comfortable.

Scootaloo looked me in the eyes with an almost sad expression plastered on her own, tainting them with a slightly glossy appearance and her lips held a soft frown. ''Strike, if I tell you, please promise me that you won't t-tell Rainbow Dash. Please?'' Her tone was pleading and had that desperate edge to it. Despite finding her unusual attitude catching me slightly off guard, I nodded my head and waiting for her to speak.

''Strike, how...how do you know if somepony likes you?''

The question hung in the air and the silence that followed soon became awkward and was only broken by our shallow breathing. My ear twitched and my brain was trying to comprehend what she has just asked me. Even for Scootaloo, the question was odd and out of the ordinary.

Out of all the things she could have asked, it had to be that.

I blinked a few times at the question and mentally mumbled to myself as I tried to think up a response. After around an awkward moment of silence or two, I spoke up.

''Well, um, erm...'' I uttered out in an even more awkward way than I would have originally hoped for, adding to the already thick atmosphere of awkwardness around us. ''Scoots, by chance are you saying that you have a crush on somepony? A colt, perhaps?'' I asked her and the second those last few words escaped my lips, her face immediately began to burn with crimson heat that engulfed her cheeks like wildfire and her eyes shrank and she shied away slightly.

''No! I, erm! Ugh! Why does this mushy stuff always have to be so complicated! I'm so stupid!'' Scootaloo huffed, deflating in emotional annoyance and slowly arising anger.

''Hey, hey, you are so not an idiot, Scoots.'' I said firmly as I used a hoof to gently touch against her chin and slowly pan her head back around to face me once more. ''Love isn't easy, but if you need me, I'm all ears. You don't need to be worried or scared to show your feelings, Scootaloo. Now, come on, who's the colt you fancy?'' Her blush ignited even deeper but she managed to hold a stern face.

''His-His name's Cerulean. He moved here not so long ago and I think that I...like him.'' Scootaloo said at a whisper, clearly uncomfortable saying that out loud. I only smiled in understanding. Young love was truly a beautiful thing and I've had my fair share of it when I was a Ponyville resident all those years ago.

''Oh, Scoots, it isn't anything to feel worried about. I think it's sweet that you're in love with a colt.'' I smiled to her and she gave a defensive narrowing of her eyes at me along with a small punch with her front hoof to my chest.

''Hey, I didn't say that! He's only my friend!'' She protested against the matter. I suppressed a laugh.

''Come on, Scoots, I'm not that transparent. I'm not a stranger when it comes to love, you know.'' Now she was looking at me in confusion, a brow raised at me and a smirk creeping its way on her lips into a left-sided grin.

''Now who's the sappy one?'' She giggled and I gave her a playful nudge.

''Yeah, yeah, get over it.'' I chuckled. Her grin evolved into a mischievous one and she stared at me with daring eyes.

''Strike's a sa-ap!'' She teased in a sing-song voice, giggling to herself all the way through the torment. I too began to erect a mischievous grin and returned the favor.

''Scootaloo has a cru-ush!'' I teased her back and she instantly backed down, gawking in shock at my retort with yet another blush being newly blazing over her orange cheeks, making them look like miniature sunsets.

''Do not!'' She shot back.

''Do too!'' I smiled playfully and wickedly at her.

''Do not!''

''Do too!''

''Do not!''

''Do too!''

''Hey, are ya gonna hurry up and git over with what ya'll are doin'?'' A voice from behind us interrupted our moment of returned teasing and catching us both largely aback at the sudden voice, the two of us twirled our heads around to see Apple Bloom stood in the doorway to the building, an impatient look crossed over her face, Sweetie behind her.

''O-Oh! Y-Yeah, right.'' She whipped her head back to face me before wrapping her small hooves around my neck in a brief hug. ''See ya later, Strike, I'll see you next time around.'' She released me and went to join her friends before giving one final wave goodbye and leaving.

On my own, I was left contemplating the colt that Scootaloo mentioned she liked. Cerulean? Young love is sweet but with what I knew about it from my own experiences in the past, it usually only ends in heartache. Knowing Scootaloo, though, hopefully all will go well for her and I hoped the best for her.

She and her friends were truly some wonderful, ambitious fillies and quite mature for their age group.